Steelers announce Randy Fichtner promoted to offensive coordinator

A day after announcing that Todd Haley is out as offensive coordinator, the Steelers have announced that Randy Fichtner has been promoted to replace him.

Fichtner is now officially the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. The team said he will continue to coach the quarterbacks as well, perhaps in a nod to his good relationship with Ben Roethlisberger.

“I want to thank Coach [Mike] Tomlin and Art Rooney II for giving me this opportunity to be the offensive coordinator for this organization,” said Fichtner in a statement. “We have a tremendous roster, and it will be my charge to continue putting our offensive players in position to succeed and score points. We have the nucleus to be successful, and I am thrilled about the chance to lead the offense as we have already started preparing for the 2018 season.”

Tomlin hired Fichtner as receivers coach when he first arrived in Pittsburgh in 2007 and promoted him to quarterbacks coach three years later. Fichtner and Tomlin first worked together on the staff at Arkansas State in 1997.

He was the offensive coordinator at Arkansas State from 1997-2000 and then QB coach/OC at Memphis from 2001-2006. His offenses were known for being very productive. Let’s hope Tomlin can keep his hands off and learn how to manage the clock. If that happens, this could be a good fit. However, he does have one obstacle to being successful–Tomlin.

So wait, maybe Tomlin accepts that his defense will give up 40+ points per game and now expects his offense to score 50+ each game?

4 1 Rate This
If you think you are being funny ….you are a bore. If you think you are being cute…..nah. If you think you are being smart…..really?
You know absolutely nothing about the Steelers other than you love to troll them saying really obtuse crap. Haley isn’t getting along with the franchise QB…..a normal IQ can figure that out.

I think Tomlin made a good move here, but I hope he sits Butler down lighting a fire under his butt to get better results. His game plan against the Cheetahs was good, but not good enough to beat the refs.

So to the nonsensical people wondering why the OC was fired and not the DC:

Yes, the Steelers defense played bad against the Jaguars. They gave up 31 points (Ben’s turnovers gave up 14). But this is about more than just one game. The Steelers don’t fire people over one game, which is why they have 6 Super Bowls, more than any team any of you may cheer for.

The offense takes up TWICE the amount under the salary cap as the defense. The offense is full of superstars, the defense had one Pro Bowler who didn’t finish the season. You’d think the offense would be much more productive with that much more of an investment right? Wrong. The Steelers defense finished 5th in the league in yards allowed, and led the league in sacks. The Steelers offense, with perhaps the best RB, WR, and offensive line in the game, with a franchise quarterback, finished 8th. When you’re investing that much more money in your offense, you expect the production to exceed the other side of the ball. It didn’t. A competent OC would wreck the league with the kind of talent the Steelers have. Haley’s playcalling hampered the offense more than it helped. That, and his many personal issues outside of football, is why he’s gone.

nhpats says:
January 18, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Has Tomlin or anyone else explained why when the Steelers defense gave up 45 points to the hapless Jaguars that his solution was to fire the offensive coordinator?
–
Haley was not fired. They did not offer him a new contract. Ben and Haley have not gotten along for several years now as Haley micromanaged everything and would only allow Ben’s input when Haley wanted it. Haley’s play calling in recent years was downright odd in certain situations. Sending 3 WRs on fly patterns on 3rd and short and running toss sweeps to the short end of the field. Ben threw 5 dimes against the Jags and that is why they scored 42 points. The new guy has already been working with Ben and he will allow him to make necessary adjustments without micromanagement. The defense is another story but the loss of Shazier was a lot bigger than most realize.

Steelers lucky to have played mill carton QBs at right time against Houston, Indy, Green Bay, Jax (twice) and swept a very weak division. They lost to one in Chicago and the good ones in Detroit and NE ate them up. Overrated D.

Has Tomlin or anyone else explained why when the Steelers defense gave up 45 points to the hapless Jaguars that his solution was to fire the offensive coordinator?

——-
How do you fire someone who is not under contract? They moved on from Haley due to his poor relationship with the players, inability to maximize the offense and erratic playcalling and gameplans.
Secondly the defense gave up 38 points. If you are going to make an argument at least base it on facts.
Thirdly you don’t fire coaches based on one bad performance. Especially when, if you watch the game, the players played very poorly.

Prediction 2018: 13-3 earn enough to watch the Patriots or the Jaguars(if they even get an average QB) play in the Super Bowl. But hey…Mikey Cheerleader Tomilin will “get his” $6miilion a year. By time Dan Rooney wakes up….our window will be slammed shut as Big Ben will be gone. Thanks A LOT…

Baby Ben gets his bottle and Steelers’ fans have another chance to insult people who offer their honest opinions and whine about the refs. This is why so many people are looking forward to the AFC Championship between the Patriots and the Jags.

nhpats says:
Has Tomlin or anyone else explained why when the Steelers defense gave up 45 points to the hapless Jaguars that his solution was to fire the offensive coordinator?
===

Has anyone explained to you that teams fire coaches based on a body or work and other internal issues, not merely off the results of one playoff game? Has anyone explained to you that the long-running rift between the QB and the OC finally reached a breaking point, and required definitive action?
Even at his age, the QB has more value to the team. Despite all the yards and points the Steelers put up, the OC has been extremely inconsistent — sometimes head-scratchingly so with regard to his play-calling at crucial moments in big games. Not just this year, but over time.
Guess who lost the power battle?
We can all see Pittsburgh’s defense has issues, but clearly they think they can fix their issues without letting anyone go. Time will tell if they’re right or wrong.
I get that Patriots and Steelers fans love to take shots at one another, and with your team likely headed for the Super Bowl (again) you’re in a position to rub it in. But showing you have more than a one-dimensional understanding of the game — and I know from your many comment that you do — will improve your sarcasm and get your point across better.

Don’t you worry your pretty little head about the Steeler defense though. Mike Tomlin is a defensive wizard! Remember in his one and only year as the defensive coordinator of the Vikings when the Vikings finished dead last — as in 32 out of 32 — in the NFL in pass defense? It is no wonder the Rooney’s slam dunked him to be their new head coach. After all he “blew them away” in his interview!

I keep seeing the 42 points thrown out there like that has to mean Haley did a spectacular job. Except two TDs were very low percentage bombs on 4th down that only worked due to incredible throws and catches. Another TD was a scramble and lateral so NOT the play Haley had called. And a 4th TD came with 2 seconds left against a prevent defense. AND there were two 4th and shorts missed due to lousy calls. Sometimes it’s the players who deserve most if not all of the credit.

Has anyone explained to you that teams fire coaches based on a body or work and other internal issues, not merely off the results of one playoff game?

====

This is EXACTLY why changes need to be made on the defensive staff. The Steelers defense has not been good, despite what stats you might want to bring up, for many years. This includes the last few years of the Lebeau regime, and it definitely includes the more recent years under Butler.

When was the last time you were confident they could get a stop when they needed to in the 4th quarter? How about not being worried they’d be torched by a rookie or lower quality QB? These are clutching-the-edge-of-your-seat situations when watching the Steelers. Tomlin himself would rather try an onside kick rather than put his defense back on the field.

And those that keep pointing out Shazier’s impact conveniently forget what was happening last year and towards the beginning of the season. I was at Heinz field watching BRETT HUNDLEY march up and down the field at will a couple months ago.

I understand and agree with the reasons why they didn’t bring Haley back, but changes need to be made to the defense too if they want any shot of a Super Bowl before Ben retires.

Congrats to Randy Fichtner on the promotion.
By all accounts he has done a great job behind the scenes.
He knows this Offense well, and will only need to make
minimal adjustments to make it more efficient.

nhpats says:
January 18, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Has Tomlin or anyone else explained why when the Steelers defense gave up 45 points to the hapless Jaguars that his solution was to fire the offensive coordinator?

___________________________

In case you missed the game, Haley called a pass and a pichback on 2 4th and inches plays instead of a QB sneak. Converting either one would likely have changed the game around.

I’m okay with the Fichtner move, there will be minor changes to play calling to an already explosive offense. The Steelers need a playmaker in the secondary and now one at inside lb unless Shazier comes back. Look forward to the changes of building this Defense where it’s supposed to be. Spence and LJ fort are not the players that’s gonna lead this team defensively to the superbowl.